John Francis Bartek was the engineer on a B-17 that ditched in the South Pacific on 10-21-1942. One of the other passengers on the plane was World War I ace Eddie Rickenbacker, who was on a secret mission for the War Department. Bartek, Rickenbacker, and five others survived the ditching and were eventually rescued after being adrift for three weeks in three life rafts. An eighth passenger died at sea of exposure.
After the war, Mr. Bartek attended photography school and became a photographer for the New Jersey State Police.
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Five Books were written concerning the Ditching of the B-17 in the Pacific Ocean after the crew were lost and not able to find the island to refuel. The Co-Pilot wrote his book, "We Thought We Heard the Angels Sing" using a diary he kept. Eddie Rickenbacker wrote his book, "Seven Came Through" from Memory. Then two books are credited to Johnny (John Francis Bartek), "Life Out There" written with a co-writer; and, "My Raft Episode" written by Johnny. A School Teacher in Iowa in the 1980s pulled off an amazing reunion of the Crew that was followed up by her book, "Reaching Beyond the Waves"
Contributor: DLangfor (47327827)
After the war, Mr. Bartek attended photography school and became a photographer for the New Jersey State Police.
**************************************************************************************
Five Books were written concerning the Ditching of the B-17 in the Pacific Ocean after the crew were lost and not able to find the island to refuel. The Co-Pilot wrote his book, "We Thought We Heard the Angels Sing" using a diary he kept. Eddie Rickenbacker wrote his book, "Seven Came Through" from Memory. Then two books are credited to Johnny (John Francis Bartek), "Life Out There" written with a co-writer; and, "My Raft Episode" written by Johnny. A School Teacher in Iowa in the 1980s pulled off an amazing reunion of the Crew that was followed up by her book, "Reaching Beyond the Waves"
Contributor: DLangfor (47327827)
John Francis Bartek was the engineer on a B-17 that ditched in the South Pacific on 10-21-1942. One of the other passengers on the plane was World War I ace Eddie Rickenbacker, who was on a secret mission for the War Department. Bartek, Rickenbacker, and five others survived the ditching and were eventually rescued after being adrift for three weeks in three life rafts. An eighth passenger died at sea of exposure.
After the war, Mr. Bartek attended photography school and became a photographer for the New Jersey State Police.
**************************************************************************************
Five Books were written concerning the Ditching of the B-17 in the Pacific Ocean after the crew were lost and not able to find the island to refuel. The Co-Pilot wrote his book, "We Thought We Heard the Angels Sing" using a diary he kept. Eddie Rickenbacker wrote his book, "Seven Came Through" from Memory. Then two books are credited to Johnny (John Francis Bartek), "Life Out There" written with a co-writer; and, "My Raft Episode" written by Johnny. A School Teacher in Iowa in the 1980s pulled off an amazing reunion of the Crew that was followed up by her book, "Reaching Beyond the Waves"
Contributor: DLangfor (47327827)
After the war, Mr. Bartek attended photography school and became a photographer for the New Jersey State Police.
**************************************************************************************
Five Books were written concerning the Ditching of the B-17 in the Pacific Ocean after the crew were lost and not able to find the island to refuel. The Co-Pilot wrote his book, "We Thought We Heard the Angels Sing" using a diary he kept. Eddie Rickenbacker wrote his book, "Seven Came Through" from Memory. Then two books are credited to Johnny (John Francis Bartek), "Life Out There" written with a co-writer; and, "My Raft Episode" written by Johnny. A School Teacher in Iowa in the 1980s pulled off an amazing reunion of the Crew that was followed up by her book, "Reaching Beyond the Waves"
Contributor: DLangfor (47327827)
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Sgt US Army Air Forces World War II
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